Our Curriculum
Curriculum Summary
Snowflake School provides high quality, specialised teaching for autistic children.
Through our curriculum, we aim to maximise the potential of all of our pupils through evidence based, individually tailored, outstanding teaching which enables all to thrive.
Implementation and differentiation of our curriculum is supported through a range of multi-disciplinary assessments and data sources to meet the needs and goals of each of our pupils. This enables all learners to access differentiated aspects of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and National Curriculum as well as ASDAN qualifications and certificates.
We aim to foster a love of learning by ensuring our teaching experiences are positive, exciting and meaningful for everyone. Through this, we develop pupils’ independent learning skills and resilience, to equip them for life beyond Snowflake School.
Curriculum Pathways
Snowflake School utilises three curriculum pathways to determine long-term intentions for teaching and learning and to determine the frequency and delivery of subject-specific learning. Pathways are not linked to chronological age and can be applied flexibly when needed to ensure pupils targets are always appropriately chosen based on their current skills and learning needs. Regardless of pupil pathway, all subject-specific learning is connected through a school wide thematic curriculum which combines skills taught 1:1 by key tutors and subject-specific sessions to create functional academic outcomes that are tailored towards long-term goals and interests.
Subject-specific Learning
At Snowflake School, we strive to enable teaching and learning that encourages skills in specific subject areas to be attained. Implementation of subject-specific learning varies by pupil depending on their curriculum pathway, assessment data and individual education plan (IEP) targets.
Subject-specific learning is overseen by one of Snowflakes qualified teachers who work closely with the multi-disciplinary team to ensure consistent, meaningful learning.
Snowflake School uses a ‘thematic curriculum’ to make connections across subject-specific learning and individualised education plan (IEP) outcomes to create opportunities for group and peer-based learning whilst retaining specific learning outcomes.
Each half term, the theme changes to expose our learners to a range of new core vocabulary, experiences and opportunities to experience and understand the world around them. Our thematic curriculum repeats on a two-year cycle which builds upon previous learning, so pupils may repeat the same theme but not necessarily the same topic.
Thematic Curriculum
Each half term, an overview document is shared with our Snowflake families to share the key learning outcomes and areas of focus in the context of our thematic curriculum.
Word Reading
Snowflake School follows an adapted version of ‘Read, Write, Inc. Phonics’ to teach pupils to hear and read the sounds, the letters that represent them and how to form the letters when writing.
Pupils are grouped by their targets to ensure that the words and stories they read are appropriate and engaging for them to encourage a love of reading.
For more information, please see our parents’ guide to read, write inc.
Reading Comprehension
Reading comprehension is the ability to read text, process it and understand its meaning. To read and interpret a text effectively, pupils must develop skills in the above two areas: word reading and language comprehension and use them simultaneously.
Writing
In conjunction with our school’s Occupational Therapy team, writing targets are selected to be addressed across the whole year.
Pupils engage in interesting activities to develop their fine motor and creative skills as pre-requisites to writing and are later supported to develop their own writing style. For some pupils, adaptations to writing are utilised such as typing, using symbols to communicate or transcribing vocal answers.
Maths
Snowflake School’s Maths curriculum is built upon an adapted version of ‘Numicon: Breaking Barriers’.
Numicon is an approach which scaffolds learner’s mathematical understanding and problem-solving skills by fading from concrete > pictorial > abstract representations of important mathematical concepts.
Foundation Subject
In foundation subject sessions, pupil’s targets are selected based on their individualised education plans (IEPs). Pupils learn to explore a range of subject knowledge in small groups to develop their peer relations and social skills.
Science
Snowflake School’s Science curriculum aims to address the early learning goals and create opportunities for pupils to develop their scientific thinking and engagement in the world around them. Topics rotate each half term along a two-year cycle to ensure broad coverage and to continually build upon prior teaching.
Language Comprehension
Language Comprehension is the ability to understand and process the meaning of words, phrases and sentences. Language comprehension is addressed both during English sessions and in their 1:1 intensive teaching sessions, to develop their vocabulary and understanding. This can include matching images, pointing to specific items, labelling what they can see using one or more words in tabletop and naturalistic sessions. Pupils develop their real experiences of what happens in a story to engage in multi-sensory, motivating activities that help stories come to life.
English
At Snowflake School, we recognise that ‘English’ is more than just reading words. It is the ability to enjoy and engage with words, songs, stories or informative text. We understand that the journey towards becoming a fluent reader can be difficult, and therefore ensure English teaching and learning facilitates early reading skills, whilst also:
- Supporting the development of language skills,
- Stimulating imagination,
- Exploring a range of experiences, cultures and histories,
- Making reading fun and an intrinsically motivating activity,
- Enhancing social skills by encouraging experiences and discussions with peers.
Snowflake’s English Curriculum is broken down into four key areas, the coverage of which is outlined in our long-term plan to ensure all areas are explored by all of our pupils.
Food Technology
Snowflake School’s Food Technology curriculum teaches a range of skills related to key areas of food preparation, hygiene and safety.
Specific skills may also be taught during intensive 1:1 teaching, within the natural environment or in small groups. Each half term, a core recipe is chosen to generalise food technology skills.
Across these recipes, pupils may learn skills related to:
• Personal hygiene,
• Using equipment and appliances safely,
• Healthy choices by planning and preparing balanced meals,
• Budgeting and shopping for items,
• Tolerating, trying, preparing and storing ingredients,
• Hazard awareness,
• Following recipes,
• Following safety directions.